La principale rete radiotelevisiva delle Filippine ABS-CBN ha dovuto interrompere la maggior parte delle trasmissioni dopo che l’autorità regolatrice dei mezzi di informazione nazionale le ha ordinato di farlo. La licenza per le trasmissioni della rete è scaduta lunedì: l’azienda sperava di poter continuare a trasmettere i propri programmi con un permesso temporaneo nell’attesa che il Parlamento la rinnovasse, ma poi l’autorità regolatrice dei mezzi di informazione ha dato un parere contrario.
I giornalisti di ABS-CBN sono tra quelli che negli ultimi anni hanno criticato di più il presidente Rodrigo Duterte, noto per i toni e il piglio autoritario con cui governa.
For over three decades, ABS-CBN Corporation’s television and radio stations was shutdown on Tuesday night May 5, 2020, ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) after its legislative franchise expired on Monday, May 4, 2020. The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) said in a statement, that the order of shutting down ABS-CBN threatens press freedom at a time when the public needs an unfettered press and as the Philippines reels from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, ABS-CBN’s critical eye is needed now more than ever to help inform the public. FOCAP also said that the NTC’s move was contrary to the seeming assurance of lawmakers and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that a provisional license approved by either the NTC or the Congress would allow ABS-CBN to air.
Shutting down ABS-CBN and leaving 11,000 workers unemployed in the midst of pandemic. ABS-CBN’s indefatigable journalists have fully embraced their role to provide the public with vital information on the pandemic despite risks to their health and safety. They will continue to serve the Filipino citizens using social media (Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, ABS-CBN.COM).
#InTheServiceOfTheFilipino
